🧠 Finding it hard to lose weight? How brain inflammation disrupts appetite regulation

New research shows that obesity is even more complex than we thought.

It may not just about willpower!

Weight gain and obesity drives the remodelling of the hunger-regulating neurons in the brain, leading to impaired insulin access and inflammation in this area of the body.

The consequence is the build up of a molecular ‘mesh’ around hunger-regulating neurons in the brain, which disrupts the ability to regulate appetite effectively.

The excessive ‘mesh’ accumulation impairs the neurons' sensitivity to hunger regulating hormones, like leptin and insulin, leading to increased food intake and decreased energy expenditure.

In turn, this increases the likelihood of further weight gain.

Despite enormous effort and willpower, this ‘mesh’ may thwart the ability to have self-control. It's like our brain cleaning filter keeps getting clogged, making it harder for important signals to get through.

So the question is “How to reduce brain inflammation in the first place?”

Although the full mechanism behind the scenes is not known yet, prioritising healthy sleep, healthy hydration, regular exercise, healthy nutrition (e.g. meal frequency across the day, limit ultra processed foods) and lower exposure to chemicals (e.g. fly sprays) can go a long way.

🥊 Punchline

Obesity is complex and the consequences of weight gain can affect the hunger-regulating neurons in the brain, which in a vicious cycle, can increase the likelihood of further weight gain.

🔬 New evidence on gut-brain connection: How a probiotic can support cognitive health

Some probiotics have greater positive effect on our gut health than other.

Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis GCL2505 is one of those, with past research showing its positive effect on constipation relief and reducing visceral fat.

These effects are thought to be due to this bacterium′s unique ability to reach the intestine in a viable form and proliferate after a single intake. This leads to an increased number of intestinal bifidobacteria concentration.

This latest study confirms the effectiveness of GCL2505 at improving cognitive function in individuals with mild cognitive impairment.

Participants who consumed GCL250 together with inulin (a soluble fibre) in the form of a drink had significantly better neurocognitive index scores, alongside improvements in attention, cognitive flexibility, and executive function.

The findings reinforce the crucial role of a healthy gut in brain health, as GCL2505's unique ability to survive and thrive in the intestine effectively modulates the gut bacteria make up and alleviates inflammation.

However, the positive effect of the additional soluble fibre in the drink (e.g. as a vehicle to deliver probiotics to the gut, its fermentation by gut bacteria) should not be underestimated. It would be great to test supplementation of GCL2505 on its own to verify its effectiveness.

🥊 Punchline

This research highlights the potential of GCL2505 to support cognitive health. This is yet another step forward in validating the therapeutic potential of Bifidobacterium strains for managing mild cognitive impairment and possibly delaying the progression to more severe cognitive disorders.

🧒 Toddlers get nearly 50% of their calories from ultra-processed foods

Toddlers in the UK obtain 47% of their calories from ultra-processed foods (UPFs), and this rises to 59% by the age of seven.

This study looked at the intake from 2,591 children born in the UK in 2007 and 2008 whose parents recorded what their children ate and drank over three days.

The most common UPFs consumed by the toddlers -- who were 21 months when their parents recorded their diets -- were sweetened kids yogurts and wholegrain breakfast cereals.

By the age of seven, the most common UPFs were sweet cereals, white bread and puddings.

Although perceived as ‘quite healthy’, some wholegrain cereals and sweetened yoghurts have high levels of added sugar and syrups. This is concerning, especially as toddlers in general consume more added sugar than is recommended.

Another concern is eating patterns. A diet that includes a lot of ultra-processed food is less likely to get children used to the natural flavours of whole foods and therefore less likely to encourage healthy eating later in life.

Eating patterns in the early years are important, as they help set habits that can persist through childhood and into adulthood. Toddlers who consumed the most UPFs were 9.4 times more likely to be in the highest UPF-consuming group at age seven compared to toddlers who consumed the lowest proportion of UPFs.

This could be worsened by the launch of kids products that do not contain UPF-style ingredients but mimicked UPFs in terms of textures (e.g. vegetable sticks puffs or snacks resembling cookies).

Despite many limitations, this study highlights the growing concern of excessive intake of UPF among children in the UK. It's not easy to feed children healthily in our current food environment. UPFs are often cheaper, more convenient and labelled as healthy options.

🥊 Punchline

Nearly 50% of calorie intake by toddlers in the UK is from ultra-processed foods, which have high levels of added sugar, syrups and unhealthy fats. This could negatively affect eating patterns as habits set in childhood can persist through into adulthood.